Discipline equals Freedom – Sun 3.26.17

I recently finished reading Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, a book by retired SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The book was beyond inspiring, especially the section where Willink described a concept summed up in three simple words: discipline equals freedom.

Discipline is a skill. Like any skill, it must be practiced relentlessly to attain mastery. How are you practicing discipline in your daily life?

Willink recalls how his platoon struggled to efficiently collect evidence from areas which they captured from enemy forces. Their original method involved smashing everything in sight, leaving them to deal with the cleanup and potential destruction of valuable items in the aftermath. Despite the adrenaline rush of going berserk after securing an enemy stronghold, it was a waste of time and put the platoon in potential danger.

Instead, Willink delegated evidence-gathering assignments to different members of the platoon and forbade the mindless rampage which had become standard. This act of discipline bought them freedom; quicker cleanups meant less time with their guard down and less time in enemy territory.

He also uses this principle for business and life. For his workouts and waking up early and eating right. The more disciplined you are, the more (NOT less) freedom you have in your everyday life.

Here’s a few short videos from this intense man that I highly recommend:

For my fitness, this mindset of Jocko’s makes me want to reinvest in myself and work that much harder to wake up, workout first thing in the morning and eat even better. And for my life, there are many things that I can do to apply his principles of discipline to give myself more freedom.